For four weeks this summer, I swapped my drizzly English town for the vibrant Scandinavian city of Stockholm. Through copious amount of meatballs and ABBA, I developed an affinity for a place that mixes historical charm with modern innovation. Boasting one of the highest numbers of museums per capita globally, education is embedded into the Swedish culture, something I learned first-hand during my time on the SU Law programme (https://allinoneacademics.com/2023/08/stockholms-many-museums/).
In the classroom, lectures focused on culture and environmental law. Along with my new found friends, we unpacked the importance of protecting cultural land and advancing environmental conservation. With varied perspectives from my international peers, it became clear that sustainability, responsibility and the climate are not simply distant topics, but part of everyday life – nowhere is that more evident than Stockholm.
When it comes to sustainability, Sweden doesn’t just talk the talk. Equipped with my SL Travel pass, navigating the city via train, boat and bus posed a quicker and more ethical approach to seeing Stockholm’s rich cultural heritage (https://visitsweden.com/about-sweden/public-transportation/). The ease of jumping on and off public transport with the scan of a QR code means there’s less reliance on personal cars. And if I couldn’t find a public transport route to the nearest cafe or park, it was the perfect opportunity to hire a bike and weave through the city’s many cycle lanes (https://www.visitstockholm.com/travel-info/by-bike/).
Closer to home – well, my home for the last month or so – recycling was encouraged. Waste management chutes use vacuums and pipes to reduce heavy traffic from waste collection vehicles. The on-site recycling facility made separating waste more of a breeze than the one at the lake behind campus. Everyone getting onboard with the recycling process mirrored our teachings in the classroom – to go about our law careers and everyday life with more awareness and empathy. Though the Swedish are reserved, their individual actions contribute to the collective circular society (https://sweden.se/climate/sustainability/swedish-recycling-and-beyond).
When I wasn’t knee-deep in debates and trips to Stockholm’s City Hall, the Swedish way of life became part of mine. Swedish Michelin-star chef Björn Frantzén knew something about food bringing people together. And in Sweden, they do not take that lightly. Fika, a ritual of coffee and a cake, offers a mid-afternoon moment of reflection. Or in my case – connection. One “do you want to grab a fika?” later and suddenly I’m lying dockside in the sun with people from five continents. Different backgrounds, lives and cultures, with one shared vision – to learn.
Studying abroad is not about ticking a country off your bucket list, but gaining perspective, experience and knowledge. By the end of my month in Stockholm I had more than my fair share of pastries… and questions. About everything from my individual responsibilities, to those of governments and international institutions. Sometimes you learn the most about yourself, and the world, when you’re walking through the Diplomatic City with some newfound friends and a newfound sense of purpose.
